News Roundup from PI Brazil – March 2022

There are three stories to report on from PI Brazil this month. Read on…


PI Brazil Inaugurates Ethernet-APL Board

PI Brazil, which aims to promote technologies for industrial networks and the viability and good practices of their use, has now a new directorate – Ethernet-APL Board – welcoming engineer Renato Rodrigues as head of the division. The first director will have the challenge of introducing the technology to the Brazilian automation market. “The year 2022 will come with lots of news and several related events, besides the assembly of the first functional Ethernet-APL pilot plants, which promises to revolutionize the way instruments and other field equipment communicate in the automation network. And, for this process, end-users can count on the support of PI Brazil”, says Rodrigues.


IO-Link Kits Are Set-Up and Ready to Use

PI Brazil, through its IO-Link Board, now has fully set-up teaching kits, which will be used as practical demonstration tools during courses and events promoted by the Association, especially those focused on Industry 4.0 and IIoT. The purpose of these sets is to show how the technology can simplify the work of end-users in terms of operation and access to product diagnostics, ease of installation, multi-brand integration, interaction with the cloud, and data accessibility. Each kit consists of several devices, from different manufacturers, such as sensors, positioners, encoders, process transmitters, network modules, and intelligent light columns, all based on IO-Link technology and organized in a PLC, on the same PROFINET network platform. With this material, it is possible to instantly simulate an industrial process with all its steps with the products in IO-Link, where the data being used to digitize the procedure is presented online on a simulated screen.


PI Brazil forms Cable Working Group

PI Brazil, which already has a Working Group devoted to Industry 4.0 and another one dedicated to AS-Interface Technology, now welcomes GT Cabos, a group formed by associated companies that supply PROFIBUS, PROFINET, AS-i, and IO-Link cables. On November 30th, the new Group met to think and plan actions for 2022, including promoting exclusive webinars to address the topic and best practices on the proper use of cables for the good performance of an industrial network and the care in order not to compromise the technological properties of those materials. Another important matter discussed at the meeting was the implementation of a statistical survey of the sector, which will begin next year.